Going to try and fit 8” speakers in the factory 6” location

[Wrecked Rooster]

Speakers came in. 8” kickers replacing the factory 6” speakers. Looks like it’s going to be a tight fit (circumference) for the grills. Depth I’m good to go. The factory wire is 16 ga. Which according to the attached chart should be fine. Pulling ~12.5 amps at 150 watts RMS according to the manufacturer. Would have to put an amperes reader on there to confirm actual draw.

Not going to lie, cutting the hole is going to be scary. Especially with the tight tolerances. I’ve never installed an audio system but am pretty familiar with wiring. Also, I think I’m digging the charcoal grilles over the white. Matches the charcoal in the seats perfectly. Fingers crossed everything goes in smoothly.

 

[ThatJeepGuy]

Looks good to me. But I feel bad for the unlucky soul that sits there. They’ll be deaf very soon.....

 

[OB WI]

Speakers came in. 8” kickers replacing the factory 6” speakers. Looks like it’s going to be a tight fit (circumference) for the grills. Depth I’m good to go. The factory wire is 16 ga. Which according to the attached chart should be fine. Pulling ~12.5 amps at 150 watts RMS according to the manufacturer. Would have to put an amperes reader on there to confirm actual draw.

Not going to lie, cutting the hole is going to be scary. Especially with the tight tolerances. I’ve never installed an audio system but am pretty familiar with wiring. Also, I think I’m digging the charcoal grilles over the white. Matches the charcoal in the seats perfectly. Fingers crossed everything goes in smoothly.

I just replaced my factory 6.5 with the same kicker 6.5 in my AR250 last night. I was thinking of the 8 inch but glad I ordered the 6.5. The bow and stern wouldn’t have fit with the 8’s. I installed the charcoal in the bow and stern and white in the middle. Looks good. It does sound better but I will need to replace the amp and add a sub sometime this year.

 

[Wrecked Rooster]

Looks good to me. But I feel bad for the unlucky soul that sits there. They’ll be deaf very soon.....

lol. Think so? Honestly, I haven’t considered that. I actually bought 6.5’s as well and planned on sending them back since the 8’s “should” fit. Figured running the speakers higher only when we are at full speed or out of the boat completely. Otherwise, it would be turned down.

Figure I can always turn it down, but can’t make them louder. Hoping the 8’s have enough depth that I won’t need to add a sub.

 

[TJP027]

This is a great idea, I was thinking of adding 8" for tower speakers, never thought of this.

Cant wait to see the finished product.

Keep us updated.

 

[ShlepRock]

I just replaced my factory 6.5 with the same kicker 6.5 in my AR250 last night. I was thinking of the 8 inch but glad I ordered the 6.5. The bow and stern wouldn’t have fit with the 8’s. I installed the charcoal in the bow and stern and white in the middle. Looks good. It does sound better but I will need to replace the amp and add a sub sometime this year.

View attachment 151598View attachment 151599View attachment 151600

Looks good and clean!

 

[adrianp89]

Love it, did you drive over to StillWater and pick them up?

 

[adamncincy]

I installed the 6.5" kickers and they sound great, but I added 2 - 3.5" Skar bullet tweeters as there wasn't enough highs. Installing 2 - 8" JBL Marine clubs on wake tower in a few days.

 

[Wrecked Rooster]

This is a great idea, I was thinking of adding 8" for tower speakers, never thought of this.

Cant wait to see the finished product.

Keep us updated.

Think I'm going to go with @adrianp89 suggestion and do the 9" horns on the tower. They are pricier (double) but the performance is way up there from everything I've seen.

As far as wiring, I was thinking the 16 ga the factory had would be fine, but might go ahead and run 12 gauge to the factory locations to be safe.

 

[Wrecked Rooster]

Love it, did you drive over to StillWater and pick them up?

I didn't . Funny that I didn't even realize that they were local to me. I made a post on FB about going with Kicker or Fusion and one of their employees reached out to me and gave me a bunch of good information. Invited me up to take a tour of their business, which I thought was cool. Obviously, they got my money, just through a rep. One of their online dealers was offering 15% off and free shipping, so I jumped on that. Bought their KMC4 head unit as well. I just wish their amps were in stock. Guess they are having an issue sourcing chips.

 

[adamncincy]

@Wrecked Rooster yeah there's a global chip shortage - everywhere and it's effecting everything. 9-22 mo's out. I (believe) Intel is building an emergency factory in Phoenix. Water supplies were cut off to Chinese facilities that built the chips from the government.

 

[Wrecked Rooster]

@Wrecked Rooster yeah there's a global chip shortage - everywhere and it's effecting everything. 9-22 mo's out. I (believe) Intel is building an emergency factory in Phoenix. Water supplies were cut off to Chinese facilities that built the chips from the government.

All your eggs in one basket.... Thanks for the info!

 

[adamncincy]

@Wrecked Rooster you bet. I work in IT on the enterprise level (sales side) and it's driving us crazy and pissing off our customers! lol

 

[OB WI]

Think I'm going to go with @adrianp89 suggestion and do the 9" horns on the tower. They are pricier (double) but the performance is way up there from everything I've seen.

As far as wiring, I was thinking the 16 ga the factory had would be fine, but might go ahead and run 12 gauge to the factory locations to be safe.

I am going to do the 9 in horns at some point also. I like the way they swivel and how easy they come off the tower to store when leaving the boat/traveling.

 

[CraigAR]

I installed my 8" wetsounds in the wall of the bow storage and another pair by the captains chairs. If you can't fit in your factory locations these locations sound great, of course it all depends on what amp your running.

 

[Wrecked Rooster]

I installed my 8" wetsounds in the wall of the bow storage and another pair by the captains chairs. If you can't fit in your factory locations these locations sound great, of course it all depends on what amp your running.

Are you running 6.5's in addition to the 8's below in your bow? Looks clean.

 

[CraigAR]

Are you running 6.5's in addition to the 8's below in your bow? Looks clean.

Yup, I'm running (4) wetsounds 6.5 in the factory locations and 4 revo 8's in the bow and helm then a set of rev 8 tower speakers with a sub. The 8's over power the 6.5s in the bow area where I have to put my ear next to them to see if they're on. The 8's sound amazing up there

 

[Wrecked Rooster]

Yup, I'm running (4) wetsounds 6.5 in the factory locations and 4 revo 8's in the bow and helm then a set of rev 8 tower speakers with a sub. The 8's over power the 6.5s in the bow area where I have to put my ear next to them to see if they're on. The 8's sound amazing up there

Nice. Think i'm going to just squeeze these 8's in the factory locations.

 

[CraigAR]

Nice. Think i'm going to just squeeze these 8's in there factory locations.

That's really all you need on the boat, 4 8inch speakers and a pair of tower speakers with a sub and it's loud as he'll. Good luck.

 

[Wrecked Rooster]

That's really all you need on the boat, 4 8inch speakers and a pair of tower speakers with a sub and it's loud as he'll. Good luck.

For a sub, do you think something like the Kicker tube enclosure : 2019 8" TB Enclosure | KICKER®

or a free air? Thanks!